Equipment for freezing and packing materials



July 5, 1932. E M|LLER 1,866,316

EQUIPMENT FORFREEZING AND PACKING MATERIALS Original Fi led May 25. 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

July 5, 1932. M. E. MILLER 1,866,315

EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING AND PACKING MATERIALS Original Filed May 26. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M

A TTORNEYS.

July 5, 1-932. M. E. MILLER EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING AND PACKING MATERIALS Original Filed May 26. 1927 Hall 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VII'VVEINTOR.

imam/w ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED 'rArEs PATENT orricr.

MORRIS E. MILLER, F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. H. MILLER INDUSTRIES COMPANY, OF CANTO N, OHIO, .A GORPOB-ATION OF OHIO EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING- Original application filed May 26, 1927, Serial No. 194,336. Divided and this application filed January 21,

1931. Serial This invention relates to the equipment for use in freezing and packing materials, such as ice cream and the like. I

This application is a division of my application filed May 26, 1927, Ser. No. 194,336.

In the present practice of handling and shipping frozen materials it is customary to fill cans. therewith and to place the filled cans in refrigerated storing rooms to harden the material. When these cans are to be delivered to customers they are then placed in heavy tubs and packed with cracked ice and salt or the cans are placed in specially constructed jackets formed of non-heat conducting materials. In both of these methods, the empty can and the ackets have to be returned to the shipper and in the first method great inconvenience and damage to the tubs and cans result from the remaining liquid and salt.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved equipment which permits the cream to be handled and packed whereby all of these objections are overcome.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container for frozen products whereby the latter may be readily handled and transported economically.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a freezing ma chine (partly in section) and a container embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the container filled with frozen material.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a filled container.

Fig. Fig. 3. s

Fig. 3b is a side elevation of a container, but with the elements of the outer member of the container in separated relation to per 3a is a section on the line 3a3a of desired size.

mitremoval of the innermember enclosing the hardened batch of frozen material.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a frozen batch enclosed within the container inner member, when removed from the outer member, partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of container, but of slightly difierent form.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a plan viewof the container shown in Figs. 5 and 6, but with the elements of the outer member in separated relation.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 respectively, but showing another container construction.

Fig. 8a is a section on the line8a -8a of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section of a packing means and the inner member with a batch of frozen material therein, showing the latter partially packed.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the batch. completely packed for shipment.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety container. The container may be of any It may be of standard size, capable of holding either five or ten-gallons of frozen material A. It comprises an outer member 2 and an inner member 3 removably fitting the outer member, both being by preference cylindrical in shape, and a cover 4:; also a locking means 5 where the outer member 2 (as in the forms herein illustrated) comprise relatively movable sections. The inner member 3 is in the'form of a holder (substantially a bag) closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, and such member is formed of. flexible material, for example, a

suitable quality of paper stock, coated on its thereof can be stored foruse in a small space or packed for ready shipment; by using paper, great economy results, reduction in weight is effected and destruction of the container member when emptied involves minimum waste. By paraiiining the inner surface of the inner member 3, absorption of the frozen material by the paper is avoided; and by paraflining its outer surface danger of the member adhering to the walls of the outer member is lessened. In the use of a flexible member, such as herein shown, the outer mem-' ber serves to (a) support the inner member while being filled, (b) prevent the expansion of its sides while the materialA is' in a semiliquid state, and give predetermined shape to the material when hardened, whereby it may be adapted to predetermined sized packing means and placed in suitable cans by the dispenser.

' The inner member 3 comprises'a bottom3a and sides 36 and, when expanded or opened, it is of the same shape and of approximately the same size in cross section as the outer member 2 and fits within the latter, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the inner member 3 may be slid endwise through the open end of the outer member 2. The inner member 3 is somewhat longer, as shown at 30, than the outer member 2, these extended portions being adapted to be folded down on the top of the batch of material A to form a top wall 6 therefor. As will be understood, the extended portions 3a may be folded in substantially radial lines as best shown in Figs. 7 and 10. The material to be frozen and packed for storage or shipment may be of any desired kind, for example, flavored cream for the 'making of ice cream. This material is delivered at a temperature approximating 40 degrees F. to a tank C, wherein it is measured and then discharged into the refrigerated cylinder of'a freezing machine C having a suitable agit-ating and scraping mechanism c. In treatlng the material in the machine C, its temperature is uniformly lowered toapproximately 25 degrees F., whereupon a valve is opened to allow the material to flow into the inner member or holder 3. For this latter purpose, the inner member 3 is placed within and expanded into engagement with the bottom and sides of the outer member with its extended portions flared out*-.vardl and filled as shown in Fig.1) The container is then closed by folding over the extended portions on the batch A andpositioningthe cover 4 on the member 2, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Next, the filled container 1s stored for hardening purposes, either in a refrigerated room or in a brine tank or in body of cracked ice and salt, whereby the temperature of the material is lowered to approximately zero and hardened into a condition permitting it to be handled independently of any rigid support, 1f desired.

While being hardened, the batch A takes the shape of the outer member 2, as already set forth, and hence becomes a substantially solid column or body wrapped in paraffine paper (see Fig. 4) and capable of being handled or transferred from its holding member 2 to a packing means 7 and from the latter to the usual dispensing cabinet, preferably a can therein. When the batch A is to be delivered to a customer, the container 1 is removed from its place of storage and the wrapped body is removed from the outer inelnber 2. This ste ma 1 be accom lished by endwise movement of the wrapped body outwardly of the member 2, but due to the fact that the batch when hardened expands and would therefore be compressed against the inner surface of the member 2, I prefer to construct the latter of sections any one or more of which may be moved laterally away from the inner member 3, so that the wrapped body can be readily disengaged or separated from the member 2 and picked up and bodily transferred to the packing means 7, which will later be described.

The outer container member 2 of the form shown in Figs. 2, 3, 3a and 36 consists of two semi-cylindrical sections 2a, 2?), each having a bottom 20. The abutting edges of the bottoms 20 are hinged together, whereby either section can be swung relative to the other section, as shown in Fig. 36, or both may be operated to effect their separation. By preference, one section (3??) is provided along its longitudinal side edges with off-set flanges 2d to overlap the side edges of the other section to close the joint between the sections. The locking means 5, which may be provided to hold the sections 2a, 2?), together, comprises a pivoted hook a on one or each side of one section and alug 56 on the other section removably engaged by the hook, as shown in Fig. 3.

8 indicates a bail pivoted on opposite sides of the section 2?) and enabling the container to be readily carried. The cover t frictionally fits the upper ends of the sections 2a, 26,

but if desired suitable locking means may be provided for removably holding it in place.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, which show another form of outer member, the sections 2a, 2b, of the container member 2 are hinged at one side along adjacent longitudinal side edges and the bottom for the member comprises a flanged disk disposed within the side walls of the sections and having a bayonet joint connection, as shown at 9, with these walls; also the cover at has by preference a bayonet joint connection with the sections 2a, 2b, as

shown at 10. 11 indicates a suitable handle for-carrying the container. When the hard- 'moved and the sections 2a, 2b, are swung laterally away from eachother, as shown in Fig. 7.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a container 200 having the sections 2m, 26 which are hinged along their longitudinal sides to an intermediate side wall section 12 and the bottom 20 is rigidly connected, as by rivets 1.3, to the lower end of the section 12. 190 indicates the cover frictionally or otherwise removably mounted on the sections 2a", 2%, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and having a suitable handle 4%. 800 indicates a bail pivotally connected to a ring 8%, which may have a bayonet joint connection with the sections 2m, 26 and 12. When it is desired to remove the hardened batch and inner member 3110 from the member 209, the cover 150 and ring 8% are removed and then the sections 2a, 2b, are swung laterally about their respective hinges, as shown in Fig. 10.

When the frozen material is hardened, the wrapped body thereof is placed in a packing means 7 surrounded with communicating chambers or cells certain of which contain a suitable refrigerant of relatively lower temperature than that used for hardening the material, whereby the wrapped body is insulated from the temperature of the atmosphere, refrigerated, protected against damage and supported for handling and shipment.

The packing means 7 comprises a casing having inner and outer walls disposed in spaced relation, end walls and compartments adjacent the inner faces of the end walls, certain or all of which compartments hold a suitable refrigerant, whereby the air in the spaces between the walls of the casing is lowered in temperature, the refrigerant in the compartments serving to maintain the end portions of the body in frozen condition and the refrigerated space between the compartments serving to maintain the central portion of the body in frozen condition.

The several walls of the packing means 7 are preferably formed from cellulose stock material, whereby the advantages of compactness, lightness, cheapness and ready fabrication are obtained and also a substantially air tightenclosure produced. I have found card board formed from corrugated stock and surfaced with thin sheet material is admirably suited for my purpose and having all of the advantages above referred to. Figs. 11 and 12, show one fOI'lll'Of packing means formed from cellulose material. In these views, 14- indicates the outer side walls and 15 indicates the bottom. 16 indicates the top comprising one or more flaps capable of being folded from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 12. The several walls just referred to may be formed from a single section of material of the character already described and scored along predetermined lines in a well known manner to permit the portions of the section to be folded relative to each other into the shape shown to form the walls 14 and 15 and flaps 16. The free edges of the section, when folded, are secured together in any desired manner, whereby the packing means is substantially air tight, when the flaps 16 are folded down and sealed as by gummed tape, as shown in Fig. 12. 17 17 18, 18, indicates compartments within the casing wall 14 and adjacentits ends. I preferably place two compartments at each end of the casing'in side by side relation. The compartments are of a size to exactly fit between the sides 14. The compartments are constructed to provide two walls adjacent the end wall 15 or flaps 16 and a single wall adjacent the body of frozen material, this arrangement providing three layers-of matev rial between the refrigerant and the outside. Each pair of compartments may be formed from a single section of material, of the character already referred to. The section is folded on parallel lines, thus providing a main portion 17a, outer side portions 17?), inner walls 170, inner side portions 17d and auxiliary insulating walls 176. The body of frozen material is disposed between the pairs of compartments and within an inner wall 19 of the packing means 7.

The inner wall 19 may be formed fromthe same material as that already set forth. The wall 19 surrounds the wrapped body of frozen material and is preferably of a length that fits between and engages the compartments 1717, 1818, at its opposite ends.

The refrigerant, indicated at 20, may be placed in one or more of the compartments 1717, 18-18, as desired, depending upon the temperature of the atmosphere and time period between packing and unpacking of the body. I have shown by way of example, the refrigerant in both compartments 18, 18. The refrigerant consists of cakes of what is commonly known as dry' ice. This consists of liquefied carbon dioxide gas (CO2) suitably crystallized in any well known manner 1 to provide it in predetermined sized cakes, one or more of which are placed in each compartment, as shown. Such gas whencrystallized in cake or solid formhas a temperature of approximately 109 degrees below zero F., but by previously treating the gas by mixture of certain ingredients therewith, the temperature of the admixture in solid form will be approximately 165 degrees below zero F.

As will be understood, the completely filled container or packing means 7 is relatively light and the frozen material and refrigerant are enclosed in an insulation which retards the transfer of exterior heat thereto and thus permits of long shipment and retention in the'packing means for a long period of time; also that such packing means is relatively cheap and can therefore be retained by the customer and destroyed. Upon receipt of the package by the customer, he opens the same and removes the wrapped body and inserts it. into the refrigerated space or" an automatic refrigerating cabinet or a can embedded in ice, or brine. The top of the member 3 is then opened, so that the material may be dispensed in the usual way. The top of the member 3 may be cut off and as the material is dispensed, the upper portion of the member 3 may be cut away so that access is readily had at all times to the material.

' To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.' My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A receiver for materials to be hardened comprising a plurality of curved side members hinged together along abutting longitudinal side edges, whereby one may be moved relative to the other, a bottom element and a top element, one of said elements being removable, a ring member arranged to slide on said side members when related, and a. bail connected to said ring.

2. A'receiver for materials to be hardened comprising a plurality of curved side members hinged together along abutting longitudinal side edges, whereby one may be moved relative to the other, a flat bottom element having a downwardly extending peripheral flange fitting within the adjacent ends of said members when related to reinforce said ends,

whereby the receiver may be supported thereon, a top element having a peripheral flange fitting the opposite ends of said members when related, and interlocking elements between the sides of said members and the flange of said top for detachably connecting said top to said members.

' 3. A receiver for materials to be hardened said members adapted when related to form a cylinder, a bottom connected to one of said MORRIS E. MILLER. 

